Tunis, May 26, 2025 – The Criminal Chamber specializing in financial corruption cases at the Tunis Court of First Instance issued a six-year prison sentence in absentia on Monday, May 26, with immediate effect against former Minister of State Property Slim Ben Hmidan, along with expatriate Tunisian businessman Abdelmajid Bouden. The sentence was issued in absentia in a case related to the Tunisian-French Bank (BFT) case, one of the oldest financial disputes between the Tunisian state and Tunisian investors abroad.
The court also ruled:
- Six years in prison in absentia against a former advisor to the Ministry of State Property,
- Three years in prison against a former public official in charge of state disputes,
- In addition, fines were imposed against the defendants who were released on bail.
Background to the Case: International Arbitration Turned into a Domestic Corruption Case
The case stems from a dispute between the Tunisian state and ABCI, a company owned by businessman Abdelmajid Bouden, dating back to 1982, regarding the ownership of shares in the Tunisian-French Bank. International arbitration concluded in November 2021 that the Tunisian state was responsible for this dispute, following decades of obstruction and administrative refusal to implement the terms of previous agreements.
The Public Prosecution accuses Slim Ben Hmidan, in his capacity as Minister of State Property (2012–2013), of “administrative misconduct” and “contributing to the conclusion of an agreement that is harmful to the interests of the state” by overseeing a settlement process that did not meet the legal requirements. He was also accused of granting unjustified privileges to the investing party without consulting the Prime Minister or respecting proper judicial procedures.
Investigation documents indicate that the agreement, signed on August 31, 2012, included concessions by the Tunisian state of strategic shares in the bank without clear guarantees. The court deemed this a “waiver of the state’s rights,” especially after the revelation that advisors and administrative officials played a role in ratifying the agreement without official authorization.
The Freedom for Tunisia Observatory believes that the ruling against Slim Ben Hmidan comes within a broader political context in which the judiciary is being used to settle scores with former officials in post-revolutionary governments, particularly those affiliated with the ruling coalition during the “Troika” era.
The Observatory notes that the trial was conducted in absentia, without the defendant being able to defend himself. The political nature of the case is clear, especially given the lack of accountability for other ministers involved in the same dispute during subsequent stages, which undermines the principle of equality before the law.
The Observatory also believes that such cases are used to send political messages against the post-revolution transitional process and to reinforce an official narrative that holds everyone who participated in the post-revolutionary governments responsible for the collapse of the state or the squandering of public funds, in complete disregard of the complexities of the transitional and institutional context at the time.
The Freedom for Tunisia Observatory calls for:
- A comprehensive and impartial investigation into the Tunisian-French Bank case, with the publication of all documents related to international arbitration and agreements signed on behalf of the state.
- Allowing Slim Ben Hmidan to exercise his right to a fair trial in person that respects the conditions of defense and procedures.
- Ending the use of corruption charges as a tool to eliminate former dissidents or distort the post-revolutionary experience.
The Observatory emphasizes that justice is not based on selectivity or in-absentia convictions, but rather on comprehensive and transparent accountability that holds all officials accountable without exception or political discrimination.
